Water saving attachment for flush boxes



y 29, 1962 M. H. JENKINS 3,036,313

WATER SAVING ATTACHMENT FOR FLUSH BOXES F'iied May 1, 1961 INVENTOR. \ZdMark H. Jenkins TTORNE Y5.

United States This invention relates to a device for use withaconventional water closet for the purpose of controlling the waterissuing from the latter whereby a substantial savatent O ing of water isobtained each time the water closet is actuated.

In conventional water closets, a predetermined quantity of water isutilized therein and substantially all of the water is utilized eachtime the water closet is actuated. Over a given interval of time aconsiderable amount of water is utilized, and in a number of situationsit is unnecessary that all of the water be used to accomplish theflushing action of the water closet.

The present invention provides means for controlling the flow of waterfrom the aforementioned water closet so that either a portion of theWater or substantially all of the water, may be utilized during theactuation of the water closet, thus providing a means for conservingwater in a situation where all of the water is not required.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providemeans for controlling the flow of water outwardly from a water closet sothat only a portion of the water in the water closet may be utilizedwhen the situation demands the same to thereby effect a considerablesaving in the water utilized in the actuation of the water closet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a means fordecreasing the floatability of the flush ball in a conventional watercloset, whereby the water issuing from the latter may be controlled tothereby effect a saving in the amount of water used in the actuation ofthe water closet.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a memberof a relatively high specific gravity which may be placed in engagementwith the flush ball of a conventional water closet, whereby the memberacts as a weight to cause the flush ball to return to the valve closingposition thereof at a faster rate than that attained Without the use ofthe member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a slot inthe aforementioned member which is fitted over the shiftable rodoperably coupled to the flush ball, whereby the member may be easily andquickly seated on the flush ball and thus be in condition for immediateuse.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent as thefollowing specification progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional, side elevational view of awater closet in conventional use, and illustrating the flush ballthereof with the device thereon which forms the subject of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, plan view of the device which forms the subjectof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view taken along line 33of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a retaining element which is adapted to beoperably coupled with the shiftable rod secured to the flush ball of aconventional water closet so as to maintain the device of FIGS. 2 and 3on said flush ball; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view taken along line 55 ofFIG. 4.

The device which forms the subject of the present invention is broadlydenoted by the numeral 10 and comprises a disc-like member 12 having acentral opening 14 therein, and a radially extending slot 16 spanningthe distance between opening 14 and the annular edge 18 of member 12.Member 12 is preferably of a material having a relatively high specificgravity such as cast iron or the like, and may be coated with a materialrendering member 12 substantially impervious to the deleterious effectsof moisture. An arcuarte web 20 surrounds opening 14 and is integralwith one face 22 of member 12, web 20 being provided to add structuralrigidity to member 12.

Opening 14 extends through both member 12 and web 20 to present asubstantially frusto-conic-al bearing surface 24 as is clear in FIG. 3,the greatest diameter of opening 14 being at the lowermost face 26 ofmember 12.

Member 12 is adapted to be operably coupled to a flush ball 28 which issecured to a rod 30 at the upper.- most end thereof, it being noted thatflush ball 28 is provided with a frusto conical outermost surface 32which is found in conventional flush balls.

Flush ball 28 is adapted to control the flow of water from aconventional water closet 34 issuing through the open end of a conduit36 when rod 30 is shifted upwardly by the actuation of a handle 38operably coupled thereto. Supporting structure 49 within water closet34, renders rod 30 vertically shifitable so as to shift flush ball 28into and out of engagement with conduit 36.

Member 12 is installed over flush ball 28 by inserting rod 30 throughslot 16 and into opening 14. Thereupon, member 12 is lowered to aposition whereby the bearing surface 24 substantially complementallyengages the outer surface 32 of flush ball 28. Thus, member 12 decreasesthe floatability of flush ball 28 by virtue of increasing the efieetiveweight of flush ball 28.

A disc-like retaining element 42 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, isprovided with a central opening 44 therein, and a radially extendingslot 46 spanning the distance between opening 44 and the marginal edge48 of element 42. Element 42 is inserted over rod 30 after member 12 hasbeen positioned as shown in FIG. 1, so as to limit the upward travel ofmember 12 relative to flush ball 28.

Element 42 is provided with a resilient material preferably of hardrubber. Element 42 thus firmly engages rod 30 by virtue of theresilience thereof and remains substantially at a fixed position. Asshown in FIG. 1, element 42 is positioned directly above, and inengagement with the apex end of flush ball 28.

In operation, with member 12 disposed on flush ball 28 and element 42 onrod 30, water closet 34 may be actuated by the manipulation of handle 38to thereby elevate flush ball 28 out of closing relationship to conduit36. The water within water closet 34 then drains outwardly throughconduit 36 so long as flush ball 28 is spaced from the latter.

If handle 38 is immediately released, flush ball 28 thereupon gravitatestoward conduit 36 to close the latter in the usual manner. It is clearthat only a limited volume of water within water closet 34 is permittedto pass out through conduit 36, since the floatability of flush ball 28has now been reduced to make the same considerably less buoyant.

Should the user of water closet 34 desire an increased flow of waterfrom water closet 34, handle 38 is manually held by the user so thatflush ball 28 is prevented from gravitating toward conduit 36. A greaterflow of water then passes through conduit 36 and the amount or volume ofthe water passing through conduit 36 is determined by the length of timewhich handle 38 is held by the user.

It is therefore clear that only a portion of the water in water closet34, or substantially all of the water therein, may be utilized,depending upon the situation. It is further evident that member 12disposed on flush ball 28, provides a means for saving of water flowingout of flush box 34 and in the interest of economy, this saving amountsto a considerable sum over a given interval of time.

To prevent the unseating of member 12 from flush ball 28, element 42 isprovided thereabove to limit the upward travel of member 12 relative toflush ball 28 to aprede- Itermined distance, this distance being suchthat member 12 is substantially prevented from being removed from flushball 28 by the swirling action of the 'water passing into conduit 36.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a water-saving device for a flush box having a flush ballsuspended from a shiftable rod, a member formed of a material having arelatively high specific gravity and adapted to be operably coupled withsaid ball to decrease the fioa-tability tzhereof, said member having acentral opening therein and a slot extending from said 'opening to oneedge thereof, said opening and said slot adapted to receive said rod forpositioning said member above said ball with a portion of the latterextending through said opening when the member engages said ball and issupported thereby.

2. In a Water-saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said memberis provided with a beveled bearing surface adapted to complementallyengage the external surface of the flush ball.

3. In a water-saving device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said memberis provided with an arcuate web thereon surrounding said opening, theinnermost surface of said Web being coextensive with said bearingsurface.

4. In a Water saving device as set forth in claim 1, wherein is includedmeans adapted to be positioned on said rod adjacent said flush ball forlimiting the movement of said member with respect to said rod.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HoerigJuly 4, 19 50 Langdon Mar. 18, 1952

